FORMER Huddersfield Giants star Stanley Gene has won an unfair dismissal case against his current club.

The Papua New Guinea international was triumphant in his claim against Co-operative Championship rugby league club Halifax.

The Calderdale club terminated the contract of the former Hull, Hull KR and Bradford player in July after he had struggled to overcome a knee injury.

However, a Rugby Football League operational rules tribunal ruled that Halifax had not followed the correct procedure and ordered them to compensate 5ft 5ins tall Gene for the remaining five months of the first year of his two-year contract.

Gene became a firm fans favourite with Giants fans during a spell which lasted from 2001 to 2005.

During that time the Giants were relegated from Super League but Gene was central to them being promoted back to the top division the following season.

He eventually racked up more than 70 appearances for the club.

Gene, who recently turned 36, missed the hearing because he returned home for high-level talks on the future of the game in Papua New Guinea.

He retired from international rugby after the 2008 World Cup - more than 13 years after his first appearance for his country - but has not yet made a decision on his domestic playing future, although he will not be taking up the second year of his Halifax deal.

Gene’s manager David Howes said: "The decision to go to tribunal was based on protecting Stanley’s good name and reputation rather than financial.

"We will sit down when he gets back to decide where he wants to go from here. He wants to get into coaching and is also involved in the game back home."